james r.c. smith Archives

Write Your Will in Under 20 Minutes with WillFul – PLUS A GIVEAWAY!

June 22, 2020

Making a will is something I’ve been putting off for a long time. I didn’t know where to start, if I have to work with an expensive lawyer, and I had no idea how difficult it is to pass my possessions on without one. While going through a lawyer can cost over a thousand dollars (or more), there is a less expensive and much easier online solution. The Willful will plans start at just $99 and can be completed in under 20 minutes! Use promo code SOCIADAD15 for $15 off, no expiry! ...

Dad-ing

How to Make a DIY Mud Kitchen from Wooden Pallets

June 21, 2020

A Mud Kitchen is a play kitchen (like the Ikea ones) for outside, usually containing an area for sand and/or water for hours (hopefully) of tactile play. I used: 2 Wooden pallets (free) Tools (drill/screwdriver, saw, pencil) Paint/Latex primer Screws Here are the step-by-step easy instructions: ...

Dad-ing

How to Talk to Your Kids About Covid-19

March 15, 2020

We’re in some pretty stressful times right now and our kids are very quick to mirror how we’re acting, as well as naturally have some questions about what they’re hearing on the TV, radio, or just being close to you while talking to someone else. We’re in control As with ...

Dad-ing

Learning to Ski on Cypress Mountain

December 30, 2019

I’ve always wanted to properly learn how to ski. The closest I ever got was going on a school trip to Austria but the slopes were icy, I was completely out of shape, and the bigger kids found it super funny to knock me over every chance they got. Skip 20 years (wow) and I’ve finally ...

Dad-ing

My Daughter Doesn’t Owe You a Hug

November 22, 2019

Ah, Christmas time, the season for the friends-of-family, neighbours, and that aunt who isn’t your real aunt, but a friend of your parents, you think. They all want to pop round after you guiltily include them in your festive gathering. It’s a time for being kind, relaxing (unless ...

5 Dads Go Wild, sponsored

5 Dads Go Wild – What You Didn’t See on Instagram

October 6, 2019

It’s all over for another year and I’m probably not the only one of the group that is pretty gutted. We’ve been talking daily about the logistics for the trip. What to pack, what we’re going to eat, what we think the weather was going to be, and who was most likely to be ...

Cars and Trucks, sponsored

Dad Test Drive: 2019 Ford Edge Titanium

July 5, 2019

An SUV with a firm grasp on performance, the Ford Edge has been carving out its own niche between the nippy Escape and the sturdy Explorer. I’ve been wanted to try the new Edge for a while, especially as a viable family car and replacement for my Ford Focus. As a Dad, my main criteria are ...

Dad-ing, sponsored

A Dad’s Guide to Tidying and Home Safety

June 24, 2019

One of the first things I discovered when I became a parent is that kids are curious about everything. Toys, cat food, my nose, and things that I thought I’d put safely away but hadn’t, like laundry detergent. I thought it might be useful if I shared a few very quick and simple tips that I’ve ...

Dad-ing

Navigating a Toddler’s Fears

May 1, 2019

My daughter is at the age where monsters under the bed are becoming very real. Her capacity for imagination is developing and it’s all very new and worrying to her. Somewhere around two to three years old, children learn to be anxious and afraid of things, even if it’s entirely ...